4,000 Extras Needed for Upcoming ‘Hunger Games’ Prequel Filming in Germany

Massive Casting Call for New Hunger Games Film

Production is ramping up for a new prequel in the Hunger Games saga, titled The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, and the filmmakers are now on the hunt for 4,000 extras. According to casting agency Eick & Weber, shooting will take place between late August and early October in the Cologne and Duisburg regions of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany. The film will once again be directed by Francis Lawrence, who previously helmed most of the franchise’s instalments, with a high-profile cast including Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes, Mckenna Grace, and Kelvin Harrison Jr.

Specific Physical Traits Required

Casting requirements for this production are unusually strict. Extras will be portraying citizens of the dystopian nation of Panem, many of whom live in severe poverty. As such, the production is seeking individuals with a “natural and expressive look.” Visibly dyed or streaked hair, permanent makeup, lip fillers, tanning salon skin tones, fixed dental braces, stretched earlobes, piercings, and visible tattoos are all disqualifying features.

Instead, the agency is prioritising very slim and underweight body types to realistically portray the malnourished conditions in Panem’s districts. People with visible scars or amputations are not only welcomed but specifically encouraged to apply, as their appearance contributes to the raw and authentic atmosphere the film aims to depict.

Extras Needed Across All Demographics

Gregor Weber, managing director at Eick & Weber, confirmed that the casting call is open to people of all ethnic backgrounds, nationalities, genders, and ages—from newborns to 80-year-olds. The previous instalment, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, also held a large-scale casting in NRW back in 2022, which saw over 50,000 applicants.

Special casting calls are also being held for babies, individuals of Chinese descent, and those with prior military training. These extras will be used in specific scenes requiring a more defined profile. Children and young adults up to age 22 are particularly in demand.

Commitment and Hair Requirements

Selected applicants will need to be flexible with their schedules, as they could be needed on set anywhere from one to eight days. Additionally, they should be prepared to undergo hairstyling changes during the costume and makeup fittings. To accommodate this, all applicants are advised to grow out their hair until mid-September, allowing stylists the freedom to achieve the desired look for the shoot.

How to Apply

Those interested in becoming part of the Hunger Games universe can apply through a free online casting process available at casting-panem.de. Applications are open until 17 September. This opportunity not only offers a chance to appear in a major international film production but also to contribute to the visual authenticity of one of cinema’s most iconic dystopian worlds.